Webinar: Pre-Departure Orientation 2024 by EducationUSA Canada

Pre-Departure Orientation 2024

About

Congratulations! You have been accepted to a U.S. university and are preparing to depart for this upcoming Fall 2024. We at EducationUSA are so thrilled for you and the new adventure you are undertaking!

In this Pre-Departure webinar, we are going to go over the following:
- Welcome remarks from a U.S. diplomat
- Paperwork you need to prepare and bring with you over the border
- Crossing the border (with a Guest Speaker from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
- Important people and resources at your new university
- Some tips about cars/driving, pets, banking, and cell phones
- Getting settled in your new home
- Closing celebration for departing students

Who should attend?
- Students from Canada enrolling in Undergraduate or Graduate studies in the United States for the 2024-2025 academic year and their family members.

The session will be recorded, and every registered attendee will receive a link to the recording directly after the programming. You will not be on mic or camera for this session and will communicate via chat.

Presenters

Jenika Heim

EducationUSA adviser, Eastern Canada

Jenika advises students across Eastern Canada on the process of applying to U.S. universities. EducationUSA is a free service funded by the U.S. Department of State.

Shannon Hill

Cultural Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Ottawa

Shannon Hill is a U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officer currently serving as the Cultural Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Ottawa. She has previously served as the Public Affairs Officer at Consulates General Almaty, Kazakhstan and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and in assignments in regional and functional bureaus and at U.S. Embassy New Delhi and U.S. Embassy Islamabad. Shannon holds master’s degrees in Russian and East European Studies and Public Policy from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in German and Anthropology from Franklin and Marshall College.

Rebekah Bacon

Attaché | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Rebekah Bacon began serving as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Attaché to the U.S. Mission to Canada at the U.S. Embassy, Ottawa in February 2023. Ms. Bacon has served over 22 years of government service with CBP, in various leadership roles with three assignments at CBP Headquarters in Washington, DC and in several locations in the Field at ports of entry to include Las Vegas, Nevada; Boston, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; Burlington, Vermont, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Concordia University and currently studying at Liberty University.

Rachel Liu

EducationUSA adviser, Vancouver

Jenika advises students across Eastern Canada on the process of applying to U.S. universities. EducationUSA is a free service funded by the U.S. Department of State.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

I am a... *

Current or most recent school*

City*

Province*

If you are a recruited student-athlete, please indicate the sport you will be playing.

What is you (or your child's) intended degree? *

What is your (or your child's) major/field of study (Ex. Bachelor's in Computer Science, Master of Public Policy, etc)*

Which college will you or your child be attending in the United States?*

Postal code*

Did you (or your child) submit an SAT or ACT score as part of the U.S. admissions process? *

I would like to be contacted in the future to be part of... (can choose more than one)*

A student experience panel (a webinar where you describe your experience studying in the USA)

Writing a blog post about your study experience

The EducationUSA mentorship program (where you will be paired with a current student applying to U.S. universities)

I am not interested

I would like to receive EducationUSA email updates about... (can choose more than one)*

Undergraduate admissions (Associate's, Bachelor's degrees)

Graduate admissions (Master's, PhDs, and professional degrees) and study abroad (1-2 semesters)

Neither.

I accessed the following EducationUSA resources during my application process: (choose all that apply)*

EducationUSA Canada website

EducationUSA Canada Instagram

EducationUSA Canada Facebook

EducationUSA Canada Twitter

EducationUSA Canada virtual fair (April 2022)

EducationUSA Canada informational webinars and showcases

EducationUSA Canada SAT Boot Camp

EducationUSA Canada Essay Writing Boot Camp

Advising session(s) with an EducationUSA adviser (Zoom, Meet, phone, or in-person)

Emails with an EducationUSA adviser

In-person EducationUSA Canada presentation or school visit

I did not access with EducationUSA Canada resources during the application process.